SWFL 2009-10 PREASON TEAM RANKINGS
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(updated 11/22/2009)

With the preseason tip-offs in the bag and the regular season starting this week we thought we would let the public know how SWFL Hoops sees the top teams for the 2009-10 season.  This year looks to be a very interesting one as there is not really much seperation between the teams at the top of the rankings and the bottom or even some who may be just outside our initial top 12.  Keep in mind that these rankings will be ever changing and updated regularly so be sure to keep up with the site as the season gets going.  Enjoy and feel free to give us your options and/or version of the rankings on our Message board.  And good luck to all the schools, coaches, and players this season!

1) Fort Myers Green Wave
  • Last Season’s Record: 20-9 (District 5A-15 Champions)
  • Head Coach: Scott Guttery
  • Key Players: G Evin Graham (6-foot-3, 170, Jr.); F Colin Henry (6-foot-4, 195, Sr.); G/F Matt Yance (6-foot-4, 185, Jr.); G Terran McClendon (6-foot, 165, Sr.); F/G Tyler Manning (6-foot-4, 170, Sr.)
  • Key Losses: G John Michael Hodge (graduation); G James Whitfield (out for season-torn ACL)
  • Notes: Fort Myers comes into the season a year older and more experienced, returning basically all of their key contributors from a season ago.  The backcourt of junior PG Evin Graham and senior G Terran "Buddy" McClendon will be a key to the overall success of the Green Wave.  Only a junior, Graham has solidified himself as one of the better players in the state in the class of 2011, already holding a division 1 scholarship offer.  McClendon is a very athletic, quick and aggressive combo guard that also doubles as one of the best on ball defenders in the area.  Graham has showed flashes where is can be the go to guy for the Wave, but then there’s times when his lack of strength hurts his effectiveness.  Wings Tyler Manning, Matt Yance, and Colin Henry are solid wings that can all knock down the outside shot as well as mix it up around the paint with the ball or on the defensive end. Henry is a hard worker who brings a lot of toughness to the court as well as a solid skill set.  Yance is better at the offensive end but some added muscle should allow him to help out on the boards and in the paint defensively.  Manning is a long and athletic lefty who does most of his work from the high post or on the break, but can also challenge shots on the defensive end.  The wild card may be 6'7" C Josue Celestin who brings some added size, length, athleticism and energy to the line up and could be a big key in how far the Wave goes if he continues to develop as the season goes on.  With the way the brackets are set up for the state playoffs, there is a realistic chance Coach Guttery could lead this group back to the final four for the first time since 2003 under Ed O'Brien.
2) Charlotte Tarpons (Punta Gorda)
  • Last Season’s Record: 13-13
  • Head Coach: Tom Massolio
  • Key Players: F Nick Goshay (6-foot-3, 190, Sr.); F Jonathan Ocasio (6-foot-6, 200, Sr.); F Alex Mut (6-foot-3, 180, Jr.); PG D’Monte “DJ” Scott (5-foot-10, 170, Jr.); G Darion Shine (5-foot-11, 170, Sr.); F/C Adam Moore (6-foot-5, 200, Sr.)
  • Notes: The easiest way to sum up Charlotte is that we probably could have listed 8-10 guys under the key players section.  They are deep and have a lot of pieces, that if they gel together correctly, could make them the team to beat in SWFL this season.  Nick Goshay will be the camel carrying the team until everything fully comes together in terms of chemistry but fellow senior forwards Jonny Ocasio and Adam Moore will give them maybe the biggest and best all-around front line in the area. Goshay is a do-it-all type of talent but Ocasio brings some scoring ability to the group and Moore is the lunch pale guy of the group, there to do all the dirty work.  With the addition of transfer Darion Shine from Desoto HS, it gives the Tarpons a legit scoring option out top to go along with the bulldog, DJ Scott.  They have shooters in Kyle Midget, Joey Degaeta, and Jake Foley.  And to top it off they have another do-it-all energy guy on the wing in Alex Mut.  The key, like we said, will be chemistry and finding a way to keep everyone happy and focused on the main goal, but if that can be accomplished a district title could be a good possibility.
3) North Port Bobcats
  • Last Season’s Record: 15-13 (District 5A-12 Runner Up)
  • Head Coach: Curt Allen
  • Key Players: F Kasey Wilson (6-foot-6, 200, Soph.); PG Larry Taylor (6-foot, 155, Soph.); F Dauntae Johnson (6-foot-4, 190, Jr.); PG Eric Litvin (5-foot-9, 155, Jr.); G Max Wilbur (6-foot-2, 190, Sr.)
  • Key Losses: SG Shaun Noriega (6-foot-4, 195, Sr.); PG Dominique Glinton (5-foot-9, 170, Sr.); F Tony Irons (6-foot-2, 245, Sr.)
  • Notes: The Bobcats lose their all-time leading scorer, Shaun Noriega, and believe it or not may have a legitimate shot at trumping last season's record.  With the move up into Class 6A, the road to get to the Final Four does not get any easier but it is arguable that their road to a district title and better overall record may have.  They have a group of really talented young guys that now have an extra year of experience, lead by 6'6 junior forward Kasey Wilson, who is currently SWFLHoops.com's #1 ranked player in the class of 2011.  North Port wants to cement themselves as a top program area and state wide and the next year or two looks to be their best chance.
4) Bradenton Christian Panthers
  • Last Season’s Record: 25-6 (Class 1A Final Four)
  • Head Coach: David Magley Sr.
  • Key Players: G Jordan Negrin (5-foot-8, 155, Sr.); F Michael Frey  (6-foot-4, 185, Sr.); G Jonothan Negrin (5-foot-6, 145, Sr.); G Daniel Magley (6-foot-2, 170, Jr.)
  • Key Losses: F Spence Purnell (graduation); G JoJo Wood (graduation);
  • Notes: As long as the Panthers have the Negrin brothers there is a good chance they'll keep winning games.  The undersized, over-energized pair of super quick guards give opposing teams fits on both end of the floor for a full 32 minutes every night.  With wing Michael Frey back and fully healthy look for him to put up big numbers and be the first option offensively.  Junior guard Daniel Magley was another one of the six players to average in double figures last season, and we expect him to just build on that success this season.  BCS is looking to get back to the Final Four for what seems like the 10th year in a row, and this talented and skilled group seems to have what it will take to be back in Lakeland again in 2010. 
5) Port Charlotte Pirates
  • Last Season’s Record: 8-15
  • Head Coach: Bill Specht
  • Key Players: G Brian Lockhart (5-foot-10, 155, Sr.); F Chad Lawrence (6-foot-2, 180, Sr.); PG Dylan Baermann (6-foot, 165, Sr.); G Stephen Bagiardi (5-foot-11, 160, Sr.); F Marcus Gilchrist (6-foot-5, 210, Soph.)
  • Notes: The Pirates spot in the top 5 comes on the heels of their very good summer.  We usually would not put a ton of merit in summer event wins, but it was more their gritty style of play and ability to just make the right plays to pull out wins against some of the areas top teams that makes us have to take notice.  The key for PC will be if senior guard Brian Lockhart can somehow maintain the shooting efforts his put up during the summer months.  He had multiple games of 6 or more treys, and shot it at a very high percentage whether the defenses were geared to him or not.  If senior Chad Lawrence and sophomore big man Marcus Gilchrist can stay healthy and out of foul trouble to give them consistent play in the paint on both ends then the Pirates could be right there in the fight for a district title come season's end.
6) Bishop Verot Vikings (Fort Myers)
  • Last Season’s Record: 23-9 (Class 3A Final Four, District 3A-12 Champions)
  • Head Coach: Matt Herting
  • Key Players: G Jacquard Hagan (6-foot-1, 165, Sr.); PG Bobby Thomas (5-foot-10, 160, Sr.); G/F Abner Sandoval (6-foot-3, 175, Sr.); G Nate Howard (6-foot-4, 175, Jr.); G Quinten Payne (6-foot-3, 175, Frosh);
  • Key Losses: G Brennen Melvin (graduation-Fordham Univ.); F Etienne Effenberg (graduation-Univ. of North Florida)
  • Notes: The Vikings graduate two more Division 1 players and just seem to find a way to keep putting a lot of talent on the floor.  They return four seniors who saw significant time during last season's Final Four run, led by guard Jacquard Hagan.  Hagan looks to be ready for a break out season now that the keys to the team are his, but he has a host of talented young teammates to help him out.  Talented junior Nate Howard will need to fine some sort of consistency to really be a big part of any success, but he has the talent to a big night any time he steps on the floor.  A player who may just be a big key to Verot making back to back trips to Lakeland will be freshman wing Quinten Payne.  Payne is a move in from Illinois and has already been offered a scholarship by the Univ. of Iowa, where is older brother is currently a freshman on the squad.  He is also highly regarded as being one of the top 10 players in the state in the class of 2013.  This team may start out slow due to youth, but look for them to get going at full speed around January and possibly not look back on their way to the Lakeland Center.
7) Venice Indians
  • Last Season’s Record: 27-4 (Class 5A Elite 8, District 5A-12 Champs)
  • Head Coach: Steve Cavallaro
  • Key Players: G Justin Grant (6-foot-1, 185, Jr.); F Clay Burton (6-foot-5, 220, Jr.);
  • Key Losses: G/F Trey Burton (early graduation-U of Florida-football); PG Kyle Jutras (graduation)
  • Notes: The Indians return leading scorer from a year ago in senior Justin Grant, however, they lose what might have been their best player overall, Trey Burton.  Trey is graduating early to pursue his football career at U of Florida.  His younger and bigger brother, Clay, will be key in whether Venice can sustain such a high level of success moving forward.  Losing Kyle Jutras to graduation hurt as well.  Look for the Indians to rely on their slow down style and a bunch of fundamentally sound good shooters to hang around the top teams all year long.
8) Golden Gate Titans (Naples)
  • Last Season’s Record: 14-14
  • Head Coach: Joe Consolino
  • Key Players: G/F Jarvis Davis (6-foot-4, 165, Jr.); G Burt Boileau (5-foot-11, 165, Sr.); G Jaquai James (5-foot-10, 160, Sr.); F Reuben Riffin (6-foot-5, 180, Sr.); G Devin Woods (5-foot-11, 150, Sr.); F Frantz Dorvil (6-foot-2, 165, Soph.)
  • Notes: The Titans have a very athletic and quick group as usual, and when Reuben Riffin returns from shoulder surgery which sidelined him the majority of the summer, they could be the favorites to take another district crown.  They will need to learn to play under control but keep the game at an uptempo pace.  Davis and Boileau should be the scoring leaders but look for sophomore forward Dorvil to be a huge piece of any success they have potential to have.
9) Palmetto Ridge Bears (Naples)
  • Last Season’s Record: 13-13
  • Head Coach: Joe Rader
  • Key Players: F/C Ben Azu (6-foot-6, 200, Sr.); F AJ Davis (6-foot-3, 175, Jr.); G Frankie Gonzalez (6-foot, 165, Jr.); G Mike Payne (6-foot-2, 170, Jr.); G Joey Pappalardo (6-foot-1, 165, Jr.)
  • Key Losses: G Tyler Terrell (6-foot-2, 180, Sr.); PG Danilo Rupena (5-foot-8, 170, Sr.); F Peter Falisi (6-foot-1, Sr.)
  • Notes: This team is junior dominated and so the Bears may be a year away from reaching their maximum potential but if senior big man Ben Azu can become a consistent force in the paint they could make some noise sooner rather than later.  Just a year removed from a Regional Final appearance, Coach Rader has a skilled group that can get up and down the floor and knock shots down in bunches from behind the arc.
10) Manatee Hurricanes (Bradenton)
  • Last Season’s Record: 16-10
  • Head Coach: Shawn Campbell
  • Key Players: G Quenton Bundrage (6-foot-2, 170, Jr.); C Zack Beeker (6-foot-8, 220, Sr.); G Brice Smith (6-foot-3, 180, Sr.); PG Ace Sanders (5-foot-9, 170, Sr.)
  • Notes: Word is, Sanders may not be playing basketball this season to focus on getting ready for football at the college level.  If that holds true Manatee becomes a very different team, still with a couple weapons, but not having their leading scorer from last season should make them noticeably less dangerous.
11) Community School of Naples Seahawks
  • Last Season’s Record: 23-5 (District 2A-12 Champions, 2A Region 3 Finalists)
  • Head Coach: Greg Donahue
  • Key Players: G Mitch Woods (6-foot-4, 190, Sr.); G Kent Coyne (6-foot-4, 180, Jr.); F Danny Fleming (6-foot-5, 200, Sr.)
  • Key Losses: G/F Max McCabe (graduation)
  • Notes: It seems the Seahawks keep losing key guys but not really add anything in return.  However, when you have the best senior in the area and one of the best guards in the state you always have a chance to keep winning games, and Mitch Woods has won a lot of games while at CSN so far.  Signed and sealed to play for Appalachian State in North Carolina next fall, Woods can fully concentrate on his goal of getting his team back to the Final Four before he graduates.  He will rely heavily on junior forward Kent Coyne and senior center Danny Fleming for support as teams try to key on him defensively. 
12) Dunbar (Fort Myers)
  • Last Season’s Record: 14-11
  • Head Coach: Andre McGill
  • Key Players: F David Paulk (6-foot-5, 200, Sr.); PG Troy Simmons (6-foot, 170, Sr.); SG Joel German (6-foot-1, 175, Sr.)
  • Key Losses: G/F Melvin German (graduation); G Darius Perkins (transferred); C John Florveous (graduation-Hillsborough CC)
  • Notes: The Tigers had a killer scary talented line up last year to work with, but were never able to completely pull it together to capitalize with a deep run in the playoffs.  Now, with the loss of highly touted junior guard Darius Perkins who transferred during the summer, they will need Paulk, German, and Simmons to try and bring back some of the magic that got them to the Final Four back in 2008.  Hopefully last season was just a matter of there being a lack of chemistry with so many new parts, and now with a familiar group that problem will be gone and success will follow.  Paulk is the best forward in the area when he is motivated and he will need to be extra motivated to carry his team to big success.


Others of Note: Seacrest Country Day, Palmetto, Cape Coral Mariner, Naples Lely, Sarasota Riverview, Cape Coral, East Lee, Gateway Charter, Braden River, Sarasota Christian, Lakewood Ranch, South Fort Myers, Naples

More SWFL Team Rankings
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All-SWFL Teams
Class by Class Player Rankings